Journey to China

 So, after three years in this journey to our kids, off we go.  The slow boat to China is at the dock.

There's lots undone.  Details yet to be ironed out. 

 

 I can never pack the perfect suitcases or plan for every possible outcome. 

No matter.  We board this plane today with great joy and peace.  If adoption has taught us anything, it is to release expectations and control. 

 

From the beginning, these adoptions have been filled with crazy provision and blessings.  So many things that only God could do.  We are leaving with great expectation of what we'll see Him do. 

 

This trip will be exhausting, messy and high on emotion. We are going to take it hour by hour though and expect blessings, adventure, provision, grace and know we'll see the world with new eyes. 

 

Mark, Sophia and I will be travelling and we've already promised each other grace upon grace.  Claire will be staying with her Aunt Jen, Uncle Mike and cousin buds for a few days, then my parents are coming down to stay with her at our house.  We are taking a "Flat Claire", so expect to see her journeying throughout the PRC. 

We'll fly to Seattle to Beijing.  Our friends, the Dean family, will meet us there and we'll spend Friday touring Beijing. 

On Saturday, November 11, we'll be picked up at 8AM at our hotel by a driver from New Hope/Heartbridge.  They'll take us to meet Evie and her bumbo buddies!  We'll give her some love, memorize her little face and talk to those who have been taking care of her.  We'll then say goodbye to her for the week, as we go meet her big bro!



On Monday, November 11th, we'll travel by train to Hebei to Eli's orphanage.

Tons of papers will be signed, and then we'll get to scoop up this little heart melter and start showing him forever!  His monkey backpack is packed with a stuffed monkey, a lollipop, a snack cup, a truck and a light up Spiderman. 

 

We'll then travel back to Beijing by train.  The next day, we'll travel by van (I think...don't care!!) to his provincial city, Shijiazhuang.  We'll stay there in a new hotel from 11/14-11/17. 

On November 17th, we'll travel back to Beijing.  From there, we'll see Evie again!   Though Evie has been at Heartbridge in Beijing, by Chinese adoption policy, she has to travel back to her orphanage of origin.  We were granted permission for that not to happen, so she wouldn't have the additional trauma of more strangers turning her world upside down.  Love Without Boundaries has given her one last gift in that her nanny will fly with her and stay in our hotel with her as her "escort". 

 

This nanny speaks Mandarin, so it should be quite an experience for all of us!  Adventure, yes? 

Monday, 11/18, will be Evelyn Han Hui Zhen's forever day.  Her owl backpack will be filled with a pink monkey, a blanket, a lollipop and a light up princess.  We hear that she REALLY doesn't like strangers, so bonding might be a challenge.  We'll just keep loving on her, and will trust that her smile will eventually come. 

 

We'll stay in Nanjing, Jiangsu from 11/17-22.

 

Guangzhou is our next stop!  We'll be there from 11/22-27 doing the US side of paperwork. There will be lots of other adoptive families there, so this should be fun.  Finally, late at night after our US Consulate appointment, we'll travel by van to Hong Kong.  We'll snooze for a few short hours, before boarding a plane to Tokyo. 

 

Another journey across the sea (with three kids-GULP), and we'll be home at 1:34 on Thanksgiving Day.  So many of you are so kind to mention the airport, but PLEASE enjoy your families.  We'll introduce you to these loves very soon!  We already feel FLOODED by your kindness. 

 

Please pray...

1.  for safe travels in planes, trains and automobiles

2. for the hearts of Evie and Eli whose lives will be turned upside down, that they'll quickly feel our love and bond

3.  for health for all of us (no time for the sniffles!)

4.  that Evie will stay infection, issue and fever free

5.  for our interactions with so many Chinese nationals to be God ordained

6.  for Sophia's strength, endurance and emotions on such a big trip

7.  for Claire staying back home, that she'll have fun and feel loved

8.  for us to trust God hour by hour and remain joyful and peaceful

9.  for the kids on all these flights and rides-GULP!

 

Time to greet some serious life change!

 

I will not leave you as orphans.  I will come to you.  John 14:18